Oh my God. So I log on to my email account, and I glance at my inbox….and there's 22 new messages.
My first thought was "Oh my damn, they all hated it, and every single one of those are flames because Mack and Fang are siblings."
So when I peered through my closed eyelids and saw they were AWESOME reviews and story alerts and story favorites and favorite authors, I was floored.
You guys are the best!!!!
Mack's POV
"How much alcohol have you ever consumed at once?" Jeb asked.
I knew instantly where he was going with this. Just because I'd never believed in my psychic abilities doesn't mean I'd never researched them.
"Oh no. No way buddy." I said firmly, shaking my head back and forth.
"What is it?" Dr. M asked, looking concerned.
"Alcohol strengthens psychic ability." I explained.
Her eyes widened. "Jeb…"
"Why don't you take the kids out for ice cream, Valencia?" Jeb asked pleasantly.
"No! We want to be here for Mack." Angel protested, sticking her chin out stubbornly.
I made a snap decision. "You guys should go. Really."
"But Mack-" Nudge started to protest but I cut her off.
"Nudge, we've been flying forever, and I know you guys are hungry. Go have fun, we'll be done here in a little while." I smiled sweetly.
Nudge hesitated, then turned to Max. Max nodded.
After a few minutes, the only ones left in Dr. M's house were me, Max, Fang, Iggy, and Jeb.
"Max, I think your mother has a few bottles of wine in the fridge kept for special occasions. Could you bring one in here, please?" Jeb asked nicely, smiling at Max.
"Whoa, wait. You're going to get her drunk?! Then what?" Iggy yelped, enfolding me protectively in his arms.
"Then she's going to remember, Iggy. She's going to remember why she has to stay away from you all." Jeb said, glaring.
Iggy looked like he wanted to hit Jeb in the head with a 2 by 4.
"Chill, Igs. I'll be fine." I whispered.
Max went into the kitchen for a moment, then returned with a full bottle of dark red liquid. The cork was already gone.
I looked at the random middle aged man that had just spontaneously burst in and told me to get drunk. "I don't know how to remember. We are talking about past lives, right?"
He scoffed. "Of course. And it'll come naturally. Just drink."
So I did. At first I didn't feel very differently. And I didn't like the taste, either.
But then I noticed how rich it tasted, how sweet it was, and then came the warm, happy feeling sliding through my whole body.
"Mmm." I said vaguely, putting the bottle back to my lips and tilting my head back.
"Did you know birds get drunk faster than humans?" I asked when I had swallowed.
"Um, no." Max said.
"Am I drunk yet, Igs?" I asked. Suddenly I was very aware that I was sitting between his legs.
"I don't know. Maybe." He said doubtfully.
I giggled, letting the warmth seep through me. It was great…
I took another drink.
I turned my head to the side and pressed my lips to Iggy's throat. He chuckled and looked away awkwardly.
"No taking advantage of my newfound drunk sister." Fang said flatly.
Max squeezed his hand. Jeb rolled his eyes.
"It's not taking advantage if I want him to, Fangy." I grumbled.
"Why, oh why, can't my flock be normal bird-kids?!" Max moaned.
"I think you're far enough gone," Jeb muttered after awhile, snatching the bottle out of my hands.
"Hey!" I protested.
"Focus, Mack. Focus very hard on anything you want, but please just focus." Jeb instructed.
I frowned. "I'm really warm." I shrugged out of my tee-shirt, revealing my tank top underneath.
Iggy made a little sound and Fang growled.
I ignored them and threw myself into the feeling of warmth.
At first only memories from this life came to mind. My mother, the plays I was in, Rebecca and Austin, my siblings. The flock.
But then I sensed something. Something huge. And more. A thin barrier blocked it. Somehow, I pushed against it.
And gasped, trying not to hyperventilate at the overwhelming sensation.
Hundreds, if not thousands of memories that were mine and yet weren't-names, dates, places, images, faces, patterns, words-they all flooded around me.
"How do I make it stop?!" I screamed, burying my face in my hands.
"You can't!" I was dimly aware of Jeb shouting at me through my sea of memories.
"What are you doing to her?! Mack!" Iggy shouted.
His voice and that warmth I was still feeling triggered something…..
Catherine's POV (No, I'm not on crack. I know that no Catherine has ever been mentioned. Just keep going, it'll all make sense.)
"Are you frightened?" Josiah's voice startled me. I hadn't heard him approaching. I turned my head a tiny bit to look at him.
"No. I know my own innocence." I said firmly, giving no hint at the fear trembling inside me. God preserve me…
"I am." Josiah admitted, looking away from me. His hands clenched around the bars of my dank cell, the knuckles turning white.
"Do not be. It is not you who is to be burned." I said lightly.
"Do not utter that word," he spat and I tried not to flinch. His face softened into almost desperation as his green eyes roved over my dirty face.
I stood up, raising one eyebrow. "Why not? For burned-a charred corpse-is what I shall be by this time tomorrow eve."
Josiah swallowed hard. "That is not what you shall be. You shall be a beautiful, heavenly angel. And hopefully you'll be waiting on me to be the same."
My eyes filled with tears and it was my turn to look away. Leaving Josiah behind in this world would be the hardest thing I'd ever done.
"Promise me something," I managed to whisper. Then, with a slightly bitter smile, I added, "If thee dares to promise a witch anything."
Josiah emitted a low, almost feral growl. "Do not call thyself what those fools have dubbed thee."
"Just promise me this thing; do not watch tomorrow." I turned my head to stare at him fiercely.
"I cannot promise that," Josiah shook his head.
"Please," I begged, moving to grasp his hands through the unforgiving bars. "T'is the last earthly thing I desire."
Josiah swallowed again, searching my eyes. Then he nodded. "I shall try my hardest to stay away."
That still allowed for a loop hole. I saw that. But I also saw that this was the best promise I was going to get.
"Time to go," my jailor's eyes were cold, almost dead, such as a fish's might be. I found it grimly amusing that he was my own uncle, and yet held no compassion for me.
"Goodbye, my love," I breathed, kissing his palm.
"We shall not be parted, even by death." He breathed back, kissing the delicate inside of my wrist.
I spent the rest of the night in silent prayer, watching the night sky, drinking in sights I would see no more.
"It's your time, dear Catherine," the preacher said at dawn.
"I know, father," I said, offering him the brightest smile I'd ever offered anyone.
He smiled sadly back.
During my walk through the town, people followed me and my uncle, jeering and throwing rotten fruit. I ignored them, soaking up sunshine and clean air.
I [rayed for my soul and for Josiah's. and I begged God he would not be at my execution.
My hands were bound to a tall stake of wood after I had climbed clumsily up a pile of saplings. My own uncle did the binding, very roughly. But what did a bit of discomfort matter when I'd be dead within the hour?
My charges and death prayer were recited, and the pile was set ablaze.
I tried to keep my wits about me.
But when I realized how close the flames were getting, and all the things I would never do, I began crying, sobbing really. The smoke and cheering crowd only egged my tears on. I writhed against the bonds, trying in vain to save my condemned life.
I screamed when the hem of my dress caught fire.
At the edges of the woods, a flash of red caught my eye. Wildly, I turned my head.
No.
Josiah.
What was the foolish boy doing?! I'd told him to stay away!
"No! Please, no, please, please, no, no, no," I sobbed.
The fire licked it's way up my claves, scorching unlike anything I'd ever felt and I screamed and screamed.
Soon enough, the smoke filled my lungs, making it impossible fore me to breathe.
Thank thee God, it would end soon.
"Josiah," I breathed, slumping as the world spun.
"Catherine!" I dimly heard a male's voice shout.
I strained to lift my head, and saw Josiah sprinting towards me.
"No," I moaned, "Josiah."
"Catherine!" Josiah screamed, and I thought of never marrying him or bearing his children. Who would get to do so in my place?
"Get back son!" The governor warned, shoving him.
His eyes met mine.
I let mine flutter closed.
Then everything faded away.
Ugh. Okay, one or two more morbid, dreary, depressingly emo chapters, and the secret of Riley shall be revealed in there, and then we're back to the fun stuff. Well, sort of.
But right now, it's Mack's POV!!!
Ugh. My head hurt like hell.
Then everything from the night before came rushing back in vivid detail and I moaned, burying myself in pillows.
I had a freaking hangover.
But that meant…
Oh. My. God.
I had been burned alive. Been accused of being a witch. I had had blonde hair!
I sat up groggily, wiping at my face and fighting back the growing nausea. Who had carried me to Ella's room?
"Max," I called out, then slapped a hand over my mouth so I wouldn't puke.
Instantly I heard running feet, then the door flew open.
I squinted in the sudden light, flinching away from it like I was a vampire.
"Shut off that damn light," I grumbled, as politely as I could under the circumstances.
"Mack, honey, how do you feel?" Valencia asked, smoothing back hair from my face.
I had a sudden yearning to have my own mother back.
"Like I was hit in the head with a piece of wood wrapped in velvet and like I have the stomach bug all at the same time," I clarified.
"Drink a lot of water, take a lot of painkillers. It'll pass," she advised.
"So, what's up?" Fang asked.
I stared at him like he was crazy.
"You kept moaning about a fire…" he trailed off suggestively.
It all came rushing back a second time.
But it wasn't just that one scene. I had Catherine's whole life on file!
"Wow Mack! A witch?" Angel gasped.
And down goes the mind blocks.
"No, I was not a witch," I sniffed.
"I'm confused," Gasman complained.
"Jeb got Mack drunk last night to help her remember her past lives. She got all mumble-y about a fire and then totally just fainted dead away. I helped Mom carry her in here when you guys got home from the ice cream shop last night. Now I'm totally lost." Max summarized.
Gasman's eyes widened. "Is it like when I ate those French chocolates?"
"Yep." Max nodded.
Gasman gave me a sympathetic look.
"Anyone want to make cookies?" Nudge asked randomly.
"Ella, go with them. I don't want my house burned down." Valencia pleaded, as Angel, Gasman, and Nudge ran whooping down the hallway. Ella laughed and followed.
"So?" Fang asked.
"Everyone know about the Salem Witch Trials?" I asked.
They nodded.
"Well, um, it was around then. And I'd been tried as a witch. My name was Catherine, and I was blonde….they found me guilty and sentenced me to-" I cut off suddenly, remembering the fire on my skin and the smoke in my lungs…
"Burn at the stake," Fang nodded.
"Yeah. But I was in love with Josiah…" I mumbled, frowning.
Then I gasped and screamed at the top of my lungs "OH MY GOD THAT WAS YOU!" And pointed at Iggy.
"Who?!" Iggy yelped, then I remembered he was blind and couldn't see.
"You, Iggy! But I don't understand how you're still with me…" I faded to a whisper at the end, totally in awe.
"Soul mates, remember?" Max pointed out.
"This is extraordinary," Dr. M breathed.
"It was so horrible," I moaned and shuddered. "Josiah was screaming my name over and over and he wasn't even supposed to be there."
Then it hit me: Josiah wasn't supposed to be there.
I snapped my head around to look at Iggy. "You absolute bastard!" I spat, dizzily making my way out of bed to smack his chest feebly.
"Me?! What did I do?" He yelped.
"You came to my execution, even though I begged thee not to! Thou shouldst be ashamed of thou self! My last mortal wish and you dishonored it." I seethed.
I felt my feathers bunch and almost jumped. I'd forgotten I even had them.
"Thee?" Max asked.
"Thou self?" Dr. M gasped.
"Shouldst?" Fang asked.
"Should I be prepared to have my eyes gauged out? Not that they're very useful, but still." Iggy asked warily.
"God, I'm so freaking confused. These lives keep getting mixed up and I can't sort out my emotions. And why does my head still hurt?" I demanded, moaning.
Max narrowed her eyes. "Jeb, get in here." She called.
A moment later and that Jeb dude walked in. "Oh, yeah. There's something else I'm confused about. Who the hell is Jeb?"
"Ah. You're up. So, who were you?" He asked briskly, clasping his hands together. He ignored my rather rude greeting.
"Catherine." I muttered, flopping back on the bed. Iggy sat next to me carefully.
"Oooh. Very interesting. Though Catherine was not one of your more passionate personages." Jeb complimented lightly.
I blinked. "You know about all my lives? How?"
He chuckled somewhat darkly. "I've been in most of them. The flock have been in all of them, even if only for a few days and one at a time."
"Really?" I breathed.
He nodded.
"Okay, that's enough. Mack needs to rest." Valencia shooed everyone except Jeb out. She actually kissed my forehead before leaving herself.
"Do I have to get drunk every time?" I asked quietly, dreading every morning I would wake up like this.
"No." Jeb said shortly, not looking at me.
It was odd. He Didn't know me and I certainly didn't know him, but I felt like I'd met him.
"You can't just rip me away from Iggy. He's my soul mate. We're just two halves of the whole….I realize that now more than ever." I said slowly.
"I'm never the one to do the ripping, Mack. Circumstances, sometimes other people, and almost always death. They rip you two apart." Jeb shook his head and rubbed his temples.
"Death?!" I gasped.
"You'll see. Sleep tight." He said forebodingly.
Dr. M came in with an Advil as he left.
Thank thee God for 21st century medicine.
So…….review??????
